Refugee High: Coming of Age in America

With "strong novel-like pacing" (Milwaukee Magazine) and "a stunning and heart-wrenching work of nonfiction" (Chicago Reader), Refugee High is a powerful portrait of resilience in the face of long odds. It follows the 2017–8 school year at Roger C. Sullivan High School, a Chicago high school with one of the highest proportions of refugees, as anti-immigrant rhetoric was at its height in the White House. The book raises vital questions about the priorities and values of a public school and offers an eye-opening and captivating window into the present-day American immigration and education systems.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2023
Publisher: The New Press

A captivating and deeply moving exploration of a year in the life of a high school in Chicago, known for its remarkable population of refugees. Told with a strong novel-like pacing, this nonfiction work delves into the lives of these young individuals, who hail from thirty-five different countries and speak over thirty-eight languages.

Refugee High, by award-winning journalist Elly Fishman, is a remarkable feat of immersive reporting. It offers a powerful portrait of resilience in the face of long odds, providing a riveting chronicle of the 2017–8 school year at Roger C. Sullivan High School.

As the book unfolds, readers are introduced to a diverse range of characters, each facing unique challenges and circumstances. Alejandro, for instance, may be deported just days before his scheduled graduation, while Shahina narrowly escapes an arranged marriage. Belenge, on the other hand, encounters gang turf wars that he struggles to understand.

Through the eyes of these students and teachers, Refugee High raises vital questions about the priorities and values of a public school. It sheds light on the complicated circumstances and unique needs of refugee and immigrant children, challenging preconceptions and promoting empathy and understanding.

The book offers an eye-opening and captivating window into the present-day American immigration and education systems. It highlights the struggles and successes of these young individuals as they navigate the challenges of assimilating into a new culture and pursuing their education.

Refugee High is a heartbreaking and inspiring work of nonfiction that will leave readers deeply moved and compelled to reflect on the importance of compassion, empathy, and education in shaping a more inclusive and just society.

Dimension: 215 x 139 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781620978320